Lamp socket switch using either key or pull mechanism in the same housing



Dec. 23, 1952 H. HUBBELL LAMP SOCKET SWITCH USING EITHER KEY OR PULL MECHANISM IN THE SAME HOUSING Filed Jan. 27. 1949 s Sheets-Sheet i 3nvenlor Dec. 23, 1952 H. HUBBELL LAMP SOCKET SWITCH USING EITHERKEY OR PULL MECHANISM IN THE SAME HOUSING s 'shets-sneet 2 Filed Jan. 27. 1949 [NsULAT'ION Ihwenlor 2% attorneys,

Dec. 23, 1952 H. HUBBELL 2,623,134

LAMP SOCKET SWITCH USING EITHER Y OR PULL MECHANISM IN THE SAME HO NG Filed Jan. 27. 1949 a Sheets-Sheet s li- 4 4 II\\\\:I 1%! 5 3nventor i a; R926. 294 2'4- 2, ammegs Patented Dec. 23, 1952 UNITED STATES OFFICE LAMP sooner swrron USING nrrnnn KEY- onPULLv MECHANISM IN THE AM HOUSING 1 Claim.

With theforegoing and other objects in viewI 1 have devised" the construction illustratedinthe accompanying drawings forming apart of this specification. It is, however, to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the specific detains of construction and arrangement shown but may embody various changes andmodiiications within the scope of the invention.

In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the device removed fromits enclosing shell and showing the pull type cf'operating means;

Fig, Zisasimilar View looking toward the, opposits side thereof Fig. 3; is an explodedperspective view showing the various parts of the pull. type switch mechanism;

Fig. 4 is an elevational view ofthepull type switch mechanism assembled the housing or body with one section of the housing or body removed, with parts broken away. to more clearly show the construction and'with a portionof the screw shell" contact in section;

Fig. '51 is a transverse section thereof substantially on line 5'5 of Fig. 4, showing the other section of thehousing in place;

Fig, 6 is an end. view of the pull chain guide looking from th left of Fig. i;

Fig. 7 is an exploded view of certain of the switch elements of'the pull type;

Fig. 8 is an end-view of thespring support and cperatingpivots for the elements of Fig. 7;-

Fig. 9 is-aplanviewoft-he movable switch element of thepull' type;

Fig. 1'0is a plan view of the operating element of the-sw-itch contact of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a perspective-view of the central socket contact and the connected stationary switch contact of thepull' typeof switch;

Fig. 12' is a perspective view of the-otherstationary. switch. contact of thistype of switch;

Fig. 13 isan elevational view of thekey type of switch assembled in this housingor body, withone section of the. housing removed and the screw shells and contacts shown in section;

Fig. 14 is. a transverse section: thereof substantially: on line. I42 of Fig. 13

Fig. 15 (Sheet l of the drawing) is an exploded perspective View showing the; parts of the key-typemechanism;

Fig116 is a perspective view of the central socket contact and the connected stationary switch contact of thekey type mechanism;

Fig.1? is a perspective view of the other stationary switch contact of the key type mecha- .3 1;

Fig. 18- is: an exploded perspective View showing-the movable switch element of the key type switch and the operating means therefor;

Fig.- 19 is an end view of this movable key type switch element;

Fig. 20 is a face view of the inner side of one of the housing or body sections, with the switch elements omitted;

Fig. 21 is an elevation of the back or outer side of this section;

Fig. 22 is a similar view of the back or outer side of the other section;

Fig. 23 is a face view of the inner side of the housing or body section of Fig. 22, with the switch elements omitted;

Fig. 24 is a longitudinal section through the two sections of the housing or body when placed face to face, the plane of the section being substantially on the lines t ll-24 of Figs. 20. and 22;

Fig. 25 is a similar section taken substantially on the plane ofthe lines 25-25 of Figs. 21 and 23; and

Fig. 26 is a longitudinal section through the two sections-of thehousing placed face to face taken substantially on the plane of the lines 2t.2i of Figs. 20 and 22.

In electrical lamp sockets there are two. types of switch mechanism commonly used for controlling'the circuit to the lampor other-element, as a plug-in type of connector plug in thesocket, one being these-called key type using a. rigid insulated wingedhand grip element for operating the rotary switch member, and the otherthe pull type, usually using a flexible pull chain for operatingthe rotary switch element. As theseare different types of switches requiringa somewhat different arrangement of the switch, different shapes and arrangementsof. the housing or body members of insulating material are used; for. the two different types, requiring the use of two different. sets. of expensive. (lies for molding. these housings or bodies. of; insulating material, and also requiring diiferentand separate molding operationsfor these housings oiv the tvI-otypes of switches;. In the present construction, however, the samehousingor body, is so formed that either type of switch as desired can be mounted in this housing, thus requiring only one set of dies for molding this housing, and only one molding operation, and therefore only one type of housing issued for both types of switches. It is therefore not necessary to keep two different types of housings separated during manufacturing operations, as the same housing elements are used for the two types of switches. This greatly reduces the cost of manufacturing operations, as only one set of dies is required and the housings for both types of switches are the same.

In Figs. 20 to 26, the molded housing or body of molded insulating material is shown independently of the switch elements, and as stated above, either the pull type or key type switch may be assembled in this housing or body construction. This housing comprises two sections I and 2 of molded insulating material, such, for example, as Bakelite or similar molded plastics. The two sections are assembled face to face, as shown in Figs. 24 to 26, to enclose the various switch elements, although the elements are omitted in these figures to more clearly show the construction of the housing. In the outer side wall or surface of each section there is provided a recess to receive one of the binding post plates for connecting the lead wires from the house circuit to the switch and socket. In section I this recess is shown at 3, and in section 2 it is shown at 4, this latter recess being extended through one end of this section. On their inner sides the sections are provided with various recesses to receive and mount the various switch elements. Section I is provided with an upright elongated recess to which leads a semicircular guide passage 6 through the side wall of the housing, and at the opposite side of the recess 5 is a T-shaped recess I. Beyond this recess is a generally circular recess 8 provided with inclined stepped surfaces 9, II], II and I2, each ending in a stepped shoulder I3. At the center of this circular recess is a raised boss I4 surrounding a central opening I5 leading through the wall of the housing to a recess I6 in its outer surface. At the upper side of this circular recess is another recess H from which leads an opening I8 to the recess 3 in the outer surface of this section. At its lower end the section is provided with a slot is leading through this lower end to the lower part of the circular recess 8, and adjacent this lower end this section is provided with a transverse opening 22 leading through the wall of the section to a recess 2| in the outer surface thereof. This latter recess opens through the lower end wall of the section.

The other section 2 is provided with a recess 5a of the same size and complementary to the recess 5 of section I, and leading to this recess through the wall of the section is a semicircular passage 6a complementary to the passage 6 of section I, and on the opposite side of the recess 5a is a T-shaped recess la complementary to the recess 1 of section I. When the two sections are assembled, as shown in Figs. 24 to 26, these three recesses and passages are in alignment and arranged face to face, so that together the recesses form compartments or recesses in the two sections, and the two semicircular passages 6 and 6a form a circular guide or passage to the interior of the housing. The section 2 is also provided with a recess 22 leading from the bottom of which is a further noncircular recess 23 from which leads an opening 24 through the wall of the section, for a purpose presently to be described, and

at one edge of the recess 22 is a deeper recess 25 to reduce the amount of material required for molding the section. In the lower end wall is a slot ISa leading through this wall to the recess 22 and arranged to be complementary to and in alignment with the slot I9 of section I when the two sections are assembled. Both sections are formed with a stepped recess 26 and 26a at one side of the passage or guides 6 and 6a and communicating with one end of the recesses 5 and 5a to form aligned shoulders 21 and 21a when the sections are assembled. At the opposite side of the recesses 5 and 5a, they are each provided with an upstanding lug 28 for a purpose presently to be described. Section 2 is also provided adjacent its lower end with a transverse opening 200 passing through the wall of the section and into the recess 4, and this opening is in alignment with the opening 20 in section I. The section is also provided in its outer surface with a socket or recess 29 adjacent the inner end of the recess 4, and the section I is provided with a similar socket or recess 30 in the recess 3 adjacent the opposite end from the opening I8. Both the recesses or sockets 29 and 30 are provided with an enlarged counter-recess 3I of less depth than the recesses 29 and 30. The outer surface of each section is also provided with longitudinal curved grooves 32 and 33 leading to the recesses 3 and 4 for passage of the lead wires connected with the binding post screws mounted in these recesses, as will presently be described.

Referring first to Figs. 3 to 12, the parts and arrangement thereof for the pull type switch are shown in these figures. This comprises a stationary switch contact 34 of a sector shape as shown in Fig. 12, seated on the inclined step 9 of the circular recess 8 of section I, and includes a circular perforated ear or lug 35 in the rounded end portion of the recess I! where it is connected by a hollow rivet 36 (Fig. 5) in the opening I8, and connecting this contact with a binding screw plate 3! mounted in the recess 3 in the outer surface of this section and conforming generally to the shape of the recess 3 so that it is firmly held in position with this recess. This plate carries the usual binding post screw 38 for connecting one of the lead wires to the plate 31, and the inner end of the screw may extend into the socket 30 for clearance. This rivet 36 serves to secure both the plate 31 and the contact 34 to the housing, and also provides an electrical connection between them. The other stationary switch contact 39 also comprises a, curved sector which is seated on the inclined surface I0 of the curved recess 8 opposite contact 34, and it is connected by the intermediate portion .40 with a central socket contact 4|, below or outside the lower end of the housing within the screw shell contact 42, the connecting portion 40 being seated in and passing through the slot formed by the passages I9 and HM. The rotary or movable switch contact is shown at 43 in Figs. 7 and 9 and comprises a circular body portion 44 at the diametrically opposite sides of which are laterally bent contact arms 45 terminating in inclined sector-shaped contacts 46. At the opposite side from these contacts 46 and intermediate them on the outer edges of the circular portion 44 are upwardly turned ratchet lugs 41, and the plate has a central opening 48 for mounting on a pivot pin 49 embraced by a coil spring 50, one end of which is held by a lug 5| under the noncircular head 52, which is also provided with a transverse slot 53 whereby it may be turned with a screwdriver for adjustepea isa ing thetension" offithe spring 50. The opposite end of i the springis extended laterally from 'the pivot pin and is bent. laterallyat E l-to seatin a notch 55 in an oscillatory-insulating ratchet plate 56; This plate is also provided with" ratchet openings 57; there beingfour arranged at 90 degrees apart and on diametrically opposite'sides of the central pivot openingliB, whereby it'is mounted for oscillating movements of thepin 49'; One side of this ratchet plate has an extension forming a hook 59 for connection of' aperforated link 60; which has an elongated openingfil (Fig. iii-seatingover'the hook59', and at its opposite end has a socket 62 to receive a ball on the end of a flexible pull chain 635- This chainpasses through ,a guide sleeve 64' seated in the passage formed by the guide passages 6 and 6a, and which is flared at its opposite ends65 and 66 to retain it in the passage and also guide the chainas it moves through this guide sleevein the'operation ofthe switch- When assembled the ratchet plate 56 and the movable contact l3 are mounted on the pivot pin orstud' l with the end 5:8 or" the spring seated in the notch 55 and the contacts 46 on the inclined steps or sectors of the circular recess 8. The free end of the pivot stud or pin 49 is held in the opening P5 of section I while its noncircular head .52 is seated in the noncircular recess 23 in the section 2, as shown in Fig. 5. the spring so is compressed longitudinally so that it retains the head 52 in this recess, but the pin may be slid inwardly to the left as viewed in Fig. 5 by a screw-driver inserted through. the opening 24 to free the head from the socket or recess 23 and permit it to be rotated by means of the screw-driver to properly torsionally stress the spring 50 so that it .tends'to return the ratchet plate 56 to the normal or retracted position of Fig. 4. Themovement to this position is limited by an enlarged ball 63a mounted in the pull chain and of larger diameter than the passage through the guide sleeve 6Q so as to limit the inward movement of this chain by seating in the outer end of the sleeve. An outward pull on the chain will turn the plate 56 to the left, or counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. i, and by engagement of the upwardly bent ears or lugs 41 on the movable switch contact it engaging alternately in the sector shaped openings 51 of the plate 55 will rotate the contact 43 a quarter revolution on each pull of the chain witha step by step movement. When the chain is released, the plate 55 returns to its normal position of Fig. 4 by action of the spring EiLthe plate fio'moving sufficiently to the right as viewed in Fig. 5 to slide over the tops of the lugs ll against the pressure of the spring 50, so that these lugs may enter the next set of openings 51 for the next of the step by step movements. It will be clear that in one position the contact feet or sectors 46 bridge the two stationary contacts 34 and 39 to close the circuit, and in the next or intermediate position they rest on the inclined surfaces H and 12 to break or open the circuit. Reverse movement of this contact 43 with the reverse movement of the operating ratchet plate 56 is prevented by the ends of contacts 46 engaging the stepped shoulders i3.

The screw shell contact 42 which receives and engages the outer lamp contact while the center lamp contact is in engagement with the center contact 4!, is secured against the lower end of the housin by means of a transverse screw 67 which passes through the aligned openings 29 and 20a of. the housing section. This screw shell has In this position 6. an inwardly extending flange earesting against the end of theh'ousing, and spaced upwardly extending ears as which are seated in the recess 2| and the outer end of the recess 6 in the-sec tions l and 2. The head of the screw tl' rests against one of these cars fie and the other end passes through the opening H3 in the other ear and is threaded into a tapped opening in a sec"- ond binding screw plate H seated in the recess :l-of section I. This screw 61 thus secures'the plate "H in the recess in the housing, secures the screw shell 2 to the housing, and "also forms an electrical connection from the screw shell contact to the binding screw plate ll which, as this plate carries asecond binding screw l2 by means or" which theother lead may be connected to the plate, completes the circuit to the socket.- The lower end portions of the two housingsections I and 2 are provided with a rectangular raised-portion or boss l3which seats in a similarly shaped recess Min the end flange 68bithescrew shell to assist in positioning and retainingthis shell in position on the end of the housing.

The parts of a key type switch assembled-in the same housing or insulating bodyare shown in Figs. 15 to 15. The two stationary switch contacts are shown at 13 and i6. Contacts'lS comprises a contact portion ll including laterally bent end portions it connected bye-n intermediate curved portion 'ldwith amounting lugor ear S8 seated in the recess ll in the housing section 1. This ear'is perioratedand is connected by a hollow rivet 36 passing throughthe opening iii-with the binding screw plate 31 mounted in the recess 3 in th-e'outer surfaceof this=sec-' the same as isthecontacte l of-the pull type mountedin thesection and sec'uredto'the plate. This rivet formsan electrical connection between the binding screw plate "a? and-thecom tact it and secures-both ofthem 'to' the housing section, and when the-contact lt'ismounted in this-position the free contact portion ll is-located in the recesses-tend 5d at one side of'the guide passage formed bythe passages-E and 6a; The other stationary switch contact 7 E comprises an intermediate reversely curved portion Bland fi terminating in a cross-shaped contact portion 82-With an end-lug Bt anda connectihg--por-' tion t l-for securing the central socket contact 85. This contact element is mounted-in the housing --with the portion S i-in the "slot formed by the'openings iii-and we, the curvedportion 36 being extended around the 'bossesttb; and with the lug 33 seated in therecesses 25"and 25a and'against the shoulders'l and 21a tolo cate the contact 82 inthe recesses t; and'ta opposite thecontact'li: The reversely "curved'portion 85 is seated under the lugs 26 to retain this contact in position, andas the portion st extends through the slot l9, lea the central contact portion 85 is outside the end of the housing and is located within the screw shell 42. This shell is fastened to the end of the housing the same as with the pull type by means of transverse screw til passing through the ears E9 on the shell and threaded into the other binding screw plate i l, as shown in Figs. 1 and 14.

The movable switch contact comprises an oblong cupped member 81 mounted on the stem 88 of the insulating operating key 89 provided with a winged head 98 forming a finger grip. The shaft 88 passes through an opening in the bottom wall of the contact 8! and is provided with lugs 9! located within the cupped contact which provide means forming a lost motion connection between the key stem 88 and the contact 81. When assembled in the housin this contact is located in the recesses and 5a between the switch contacts 1'! and 82, the opposite or free end of the stem 88 being mounted in a bearing member 92 seated in the recesses I and 7a. At the other end it is provided with a reduced neck 93 having a bearing in' the guide passages 6 and 6a. Turning of the key 89 will rotate the contact 81 by means of the lugs 9| so that its opposite ends bridge the two contacts 7! and 82, as shown in Figs. 13 and 14, to close the circuit, or shift it to an intermediate position at right angles to this poistion to open the circuit. The two contact elements 75 and 76 are spring contact elements so that normally when the movable contact 81 turns to the intermediate or right angle position, or that of Figs. 13 and 14, the contact portions 71 and 92 are somewhat closer together than the length of the contact 81, so that when it is turned to the on or bridging position the contacts 17 and 82 are forced apart somewhat against the resilient action of these contact elements, to thus make a good electrical contact when the switch is closed. When it is turned from the on or bridging position to the intermediate position, the lost motion connection provided by the lugs 9| in the cupper member permits a quick break of the circuit under the resilient action of the stationary contacts.

It will be seen from the above that with the same housing or body, either a key type or a pull type switch may be assembled in it without changing this housing in any way. The same binding screw plates 31 and H are used with both types of switches and they are both mounted in the same way, the plates 31 being connected to one of the stationary switch contacts of either type of switch within the housing by the hollow rivet 36 passing through an opening in the section I. The central socket contact, either 4| or 85, is mounted by connecting portions located in the outlet slot l9, l9a in one end of the housing, and each is connected to the other stationary switch contact in that particular type of switch. The screw shell contact 42 is secured to the housing and electrically connected to the other binding screw plate H by the same means with both types of switches, that is, by transverse screw 61, and this screw also secures the binding screw plate H to the housing in both types of switches. Therefore, certain parts of the housing and certain switch parts and contacts are used with both types of switches, and substantially the only different parts are the movable switch contacts and I the operating means therefor. The operating means for both types extends from the housing through the guide passages B and 6a. Therefore, in this construction only one set of dies is re- 8 quired for molding the housing section for mounting either a key or pull type switch, and a relatively large proportion of the parts can be used for both types of switches.

It is to be understood that the device as shown assembled in the drawing will be enclosed in the usual metal shell and paper or fiber insulating lining (not shown), these parts being omitted to simplify the drawing.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, I claim:

In a lamp socket and switch of the character described, an insulating hollow body comprising a pair of sections having longitudinally arranged opposed contacting surfaces, each section being provided with a separate recess in its outer surface adapted to seat a binding screw plate, one of said sections being provided with a recess on its inner side opposite the outer recess and an opening through the wall of the section connecting said recesses, said section also provided with a circular recess adjacent the first inner recess provided with a stepped inclined surface adapted for mounting spaced stationary contacts and an elongated longitudinal recess spaced laterally at one side of the circular recess, the other section being provided with a similar recess opposed to said elongated recess providing therewith a compartment adapted for containing a pair of switch contacts, said sections being provided with a circular passage in their opposed surfaces leading through the side wall of the body to said elongated recesses adapted for mounting a switch operating means, said sections being provided with aligned slots in their opposed surfaces extending through one end of the body to the interior thereof adapted for mounting a central lamp socket contact, said sections further being provided with aligned openings central with the circular recess adapted for mounting a support for a rotary switch contact, and said sections being also provided with aligned openings extending transversely therethrough from the recess in the outer surface of the second section adapted to receive a securing screw for a screw shell contact.

HARVEY HUBBELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,053,552 Barr Feb. 18, 1913 1,720,511 Cross et a1 July 9, 1929 1,754,999 Goodridge Apr. 15, 1930 1,889,215 Popp Nov. 27, 1932 2,079,800 Grant May 11, 1937 

